It's been a little less than 50 years since the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show February 9th, 1964 and changed our lives forever. The Beatles started their professional careers with a trip to Hamburg, Germany in August of 1960. I'm going to post to this blog what the Beatles were doing 50 years ago to the day from just before that first tour until the historic Ed Sullivan appearance. "Follow by email" for ongoing updates. (Eternal thanks to Mark Lewisohn.)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

A Scandal in West Derby

Novenber 24, 1961

You'll remember that one of the most important behind the scenes people in the Beatles story is Pete Best's mother Mona, who always believed in the boys potential and even gave her basement over to establish a club for the kids to gather and listen to music. She must have been very young at heart herself.

And then there is the Beatles longtime friend, Neil Aspinall, who rents a room at the Best residence and who has purchased a used Commer van and has become the Beatles roadie, transporting them and their equipment all over Liverpool for a few shillings per appearance. (In addition to his regular job as an accountant in training.)

Neil stands in for George at a Sullivan rehearsal

Well, in the seething cauldron that was the Beatles inner circle, this unlikely pair have somehow become lovers. In about nine months time the undeniable proof of this fact will come into this world as Pete Best's half brother Vincent, known as Roag. The Beatles, including Pete, seem to have taken it all in stride and Neil, called affectionately Nell by the members of the band, will have a long history with them, heading up Apple almost until his death in 2008.

The Beatles are playing almost everyday at the Cavern with a night at the Merseyside Civil Service Club. And a very big appearance at the second of Sam Leach's Operation Big Beat concerts at the Tower Ballroom occurs today, Friday the 24th. Surprise guests Emile Ford and Davy Jones (black blues singer, not the future Monkee) appear as surprise guests. The Beatles back Mr Jones and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes do the honors for Emile Ford. Real recording artists!

And if you happen to be in Liverpool today, get on down the the Albert Dock, by all means.

Neil couldn't play a lick, but they needed someone to plan the camera angles and so on. It does look weird with him standing there in George's place and holding his guitar. Like some alternate universe. :-) Neil and George met when they were both in school at the Liverpool Institute. They were in different grades but met behind the equipment sheds where the boys would go to grab a smoke on the sly.

About Me

After a 30 year career in IT, I got a retirement offer from Ford Motor Company that was too good to pass up. Since then I've been devoting my time to enjoying life, especially through reading, biking and music. I'm a member, with Alison Donahue, of the Guitar/Cello Duo called "Cello Bella" and the Beatles tribute band, The Buntles. (We don't get smash hits, but we can usually bunt our way on base!)